Regular Writing Wednesday, in which I ramble about formulae.

Formulae. Or formulas, if you don't like the Latin. This past week I've been thinking a lot about them. In chemistry, you use formulas to show what a chemical reaction looks like. In cooking, you use them to make food; they're usually called recipes in that context.

In fiction, also, formulas are used, though they are often derided as not being "artistic" or "creative." But formulas help organize, help clarify. Also in fiction, there is the danger of adhering to the formula too closely, too rigidly. Instead of giving the reader a sense of wonder as to what is going to happen next, it makes the plot seem stale, something they've read or seen before. But not using a formula is also not good. In that case, the prose can seem directionless and without form. There needs to be a happy medium. In any case, a formula acts as a guidepost for the plot to progress in an effective and meaningful manner. I think a lot of "literary" or "experimental" fiction claim to be formulaless, and perhaps in many cases that is true. But that is to the story's own detriment. In many cases, such fiction does follow a formula, the writer simply doesn't want to admit such.

Perhaps I'm rambling. Perhaps I should've written this blog post using a formula. Whatever the case, I wanted to write it down, to get it off my chest, so to speak.